Hagens Berman Axiom has announced its first two new signings for 2020, revealing on social media that the U23 Development Team has signed 21-year-old Belgian Jens Reijnders and 20-year-old Australian Jarrad Drizners.

The U.S.-based team, managed by Axel Merckx, will return to the continental level next year after two seasons at the pro conti level to qualify for the Tour of California, where America's premier race has jumped to the World Tour level.

Merckx previously told Cyclingnews that he does not think returning to the continental level will have a significant impact on the team's calendar or riders.

Reynders, the first rider announced by the team, joins Axeon from Wallonie Bruxelles' development team after finishing third in the U23 Ghent-Wevelgem. Reynders also placed third in the Paris-Roubaix Espoir. The Tongeren, Belgium native won five races in 2019, including the Grand Prix de la Ville de Peyrentieux in northern France, and wore the yellow jersey for two days at the Triptyque de l'Ardenne.

"Jens is a great rider with huge potential, in fact he may already be a World Tour rider," Merckx said in a statement released by the team. We are really looking forward to having him on the team next season."

Reynders said he joins the team because he believes it is the best development team in the world.

"It's an ideal environment for me to develop myself," he said. For example, their program is an ideal mix of professional races and big U23 races." The pro races make you stronger and tougher. On the other hand, the U23 races give you a race to win. I have great faith in the team and I am confident that we have a great season ahead of us.

True to his Belgian roots, Reynders is a classic specialist with a fast finish at the end of a hard day, but he hopes to improve in other areas with his new team next year.

"I want to get better as a time triallist and learn how to finish races well. I think the team will help me reach a higher level. My goal is to do well in the Flanders Classic."

Drizners is a well-rounded rider who competes on the road and on the track. The 20-year-old won the Australian U23 national criterium title and took stage and overall wins at the Tour of the King Valley. On the track, he finished third in the Hong Kong UCI World Cup Team Pursuit and won the Australian Elite Men's Individual Pursuit.

"Jarrad brings a lot of potential to the team. His focus is split between road and track, and he has excelled in both." He has proven to be a strong competitor locally and in Europe, and we expect him to continue to develop as a fast finisher and hard man on the international stage."

Drizners said he is clearly excited to join a team he has long admired.

"Joining Hagens Berman Axeon feels very special. Axeon is a team I've admired for years, so to be given the opportunity to run for them is great."

The Merckx team will replace as many as 11 riders from its 16-member 2019 roster as riders age and step up.

Five riders have already signed with new teams for next year, including U23 time trial world champion Mikkel Bjarg (UAE Team Emirates) and Ian Garrison and João Almeida to Deceuninck-QuickStep. Karel Vacek will move to Team Kolpak, while Michael Zailardo will move to SEG Racing.

Riders retiring from the program include Zeke Mostov, Michael Rice, Davis Cole, Thomas Levard, Edward Anderson, and 2018 US Pro champion Johnny Brown.